‘Get in position a good ombudsman and give this person the powers needed’

• THE Housing Ombudsman’s failures, as listed in his Trustpilot page, were ably covered by Sarah Bird, (There are far too many cases of bad housing, January 4).

But it should be remembered that the solution to the problem of out-of-control housing associations and the associated hardship and waste is very simple; get in position a good ombudsman and give this person the powers needed. He or she will then get the job done.

I have written to Hampstead and Kilburn MP, Tulip Siddiq, to ask her if she would try to arrange a meeting with the housing minister, Rachel Maclean, to find out what it will take and what different ways forward that there might be.

It will be disappointing if primary legislation is necessary. Maybe the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023 could be beefed up.

Either way, the sooner something effective is in place, the sooner tenants will benefit and the sooner waste in the sector will be turned into new social housing.

PETER RUTHERFORD
Pandora Road, NW6